Tolley rides roughshod over children with special needs
Posted on November 16, 2011 by admin in John Minto, Press ReleasesMANA is calling on the Minister of Education Anne Tolley to withdraw Ministry threats to close special needs units attached to schools.
Currently under threat are units at Ranui School in West Auckland and Takapuna Primary School on Auckland’s North Shore because the government is insisting the teachers staffing these units become itinerant RTLBs (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour) and leave the units, says MANA education spokesperson John Minto.
“I was involved with QPEC (Quality Public Education Coalition) in supporting parents resisting closure of units and after a five-year legal battle the landmark Daniel’s settlement was reached in 2003 between parents and the Ministry. Under this settlement the government agreed special needs units would be maintained wherever parents and schools supported them as a choice for parents in the local community.
“It’s very clear the parents, schools and children in both units under threat are passionate about maintaining this educational option and eight years on from the Daniels case settlement it is disgraceful the government is still running an ideological campaign to close units and force all children into mainstream classes.
“Every child has the right to be in a mainstream class but parents also have the right to resist mainstreaming when it is “maindumping” – putting a child with special education needs into a mainstream class without the support needed to become a successful learner.
“Anne Tolley is riding roughshod over the Daniel’s agreement and these most vulnerable kids with special needs.”
Mr Minto says MANA wants a full withdrawal of the Minister’s threats and an apology from her to the parents and children affected.
For Further Comment:
John Minto 021 447067
Judy H says:
Post Author November 17, 2011 at 7:45 amWe’re some of the parents affected by the closures. At the moment our only alternative is to homeschool to protect the safety and wellbeing of our son – something I certainly don’t want to do, and cannot afford to do.
It’s all down to money. The current highly successful model that you see on the North Shore and in Ranui is too expensive to maintain according to the government (but you have to push them to admit this, and dig beneath the ‘wider RTLB restructure’ line that is constantly rolled out).
Imagine how we feel to be told that our children with special needs are ‘too expensive’ to teach!
Success for all, every school, every child. Unless that child has special needs.
Stephan Koch says:
Post Author November 17, 2011 at 10:18 amI am a parent of a child with special needs at Sunnybrae Normal Primary school on the North Shore. Even though the article only mentions 2, there are actually seven special needs classrooms affected at present, including an additional 3 schools on the North Shore (on top of Takapuna Primary mentioned in the article).
We are currently fighting these changes as parents, educators and even grass roots special education workers all believe that the outcomes will be disastrous for many of the children.
Please visit our website to find out more.